The winner of the Guardian First Book award has been shortlisted for just about every literary prize on the planet for her "breathtaking" debut novel, White Teeth, a dazzling romp through multicultural north London. Her youth has also helped turn her into an international publishing sensation. So far her beauty has not been a hindrance.

Jenny Colgan, 28

Her first novel, Amanda's Wedding, a twentysomething urban comedy, earned her a £1.2m advance from HarperCollins which included a film rights deal with Warner Brothers.

Classified by snooty critics as another one of the trivial "Chick Lit" brigade, she coined the alternative term Bliggers, meaning Brit Lit It Girls. Bliggers, she claims, are between 25 and 35 and rather than writing aspirational Bridget Jonesy nonsense, are trying to reflect the real-life dilemmas of urban, professional women. Currently living in LA where she is working on her third novel.

Louise Bagshawe, 29

While Jenkins seems to court publicity, Bagshawe runs from it. There was a sharp intake of breath when she landed a £70,000 two-book deal at just 23. But it was money well spent because her debut novel, Career Girls, sold over 200,000 copies as did her next three books. Last year she was valued at £2m.

Jake Arnott, 40

A little old to be truly classified as a handsome young thing, nonetheless Arnott was well-preserved enough to adorn newspapers and magazines everywhere when his first book, The London Firm, was published to great acclaim two years ago. As one reviewer declared: "It doesn't matter he's no young prodigy. He's 38, so what? Those eyes, that look - part brute, part boy."

Tobias Hill, 30

Went to Hampstead comprehensive in London with Zadie Smith, though no one has yet thrown any big-money advances his way despite his Byronic good looks. This may be because he made his name as a poet, who publishers seem to believe deserve to starve. Embarrassingly good reviews for his novels, Underground (1999) and The Love of Stones, seem to have made little difference.

Amy Jenkins, 34

Having taken telly by storm by creating the cult series This Life, and becoming a staple of every glossy magazine in the country, her literary career has yet to reach the same heights. Despite receiving a £600,000 two-book deal on the strength of one chapter of her first novel, Honey Moon, it was a critical disaster. Sales, despite blanket coverage, have been very disappointing.

Alex Garland, 31

The richest and most successful of the new generation of British writers. Son of a well-connected cartoonist, his first novel, The Beach - about the dark side of a lotus-eating year backpacking in Thailand - was reprinted 25 times in less than a year. He was described by one critic as a publisher's dream: clever, young and startlingly handsome.